Iloilo, Bacolod should complement each other, says Megaworld exec

There must be no competition between the two fast progressing cities of Western Visayas, but Iloilo and Bacolod have to complement each other to forge a “very strong region”.

This was the call of Harold Geronimo, Megaworld senior assistant vice president and head of public relations and media affairs, Wednesday evening during the annual year-end event for its media partners in this city.

“Where else can you find that two twin cities are very, very progressive; both cities are progressing fast, only in Western Visayas,” he said.

The cities of Iloilo and Bacolod are gateways to both the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental, respectively, he added.

In his message, Geronimo said Megaworld is building two townships in each province --the Sta. Barbara Heights and Iloilo Business Park in Iloilo, and the Upper East and the North Hill in Negros Occidental.

“We have seen the potential of both provinces as among the richest provinces in the entire country that is why, we are building two townships in each of the province. We are looking forward to transform the lifestyle landscape of both provinces in the next five to seven years,” he said.

The 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park situated at old site of the Iloilo airport in Mandurriao district now hosts offices of various business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, Megaworld Lifestyle Mall, Iloilo Convention Center, boutique hotel and commercial district, Festive Walk commercial and retail strip, and soon, luxury residential condominiums.

Geronimo said Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, a homegrown Megaworld Hotel brand and the first outside of Manila, boosts of “very, very high occupancy rate”.

“Megaworld has been working so hard to make hotels popular among Ilonggos and tourists outside of lloilo who are coming to the city,” he added.

Another local hotel brand, Belmont Hotel, will rise along the stretch of the Festive Walk Parade.

The 12-storey hotel with 405 suites will be composed of a mix of twin suites, queen suites, junior suites, executive suites, and specially-abled suites for persons with disability. (By Perla Lena, PNA)